Atletico de Madrid vs Real Madrid preview - Benzema on goal trail - 7M sport

Atletico de Madrid vs Real Madrid preview - Benzema on goal trail



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Posted Saturday, March 19, 2011 by PA

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is looking to continue his impressive recent goalscoring form when Jose Mourinho4s title-chasers take on local rivals Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon.

Benzema, having previously struggled to justify the £30million Madrid paid Lyon for his services in the summer of 2009, took his tally to nine goals in his last seven appearances with his side4s second in their 3-0 Champions League victory over the Frenchman4s former club on Wednesday.

Benzema now has 20 for the season in all competitions, and he is aiming to add to that against Atletico as Madrid look to keep the pressure up on Primera Division leaders Barcelona.

"Now I have some luck and my team-mates are giving me a lot of balls to score goals. Mentally and physically I4m very well, but I4m going to continue working to be a success here. Hopefully this situation will continue as it has been," he told Onda Cero.

"I want to play and score (against Atletico)," added the France international, who admits his side need to be wary of the threat posed by Atletico strike duo Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan.

"They are very dangerous forwards but we are going to Atletico to win this important match."

Madrid4s success over Lyon saw them reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in seven seasons and confidence will be soaring ahead of the derby - a match the Whites have not lost either home or away since 1999.

Mourinho4s men start the weekend five points behind leaders Barcelona, who host Getafe earlier in the evening, and still in the hunt for three trophies this season.

In the Champions League they were today drawn against Tottenham in the last eight, with a potential semi-final showdown with arch-rivals Barca - who are also Madrid4s opponents in the Copa del Rey final.

While Madrid chase silverware on three fronts, Atletico4s main goal now is just to try and secure themselves European football next season.

The Rojiblancos won the Europa League and reached the Copa del Rey final last term, but this season has been largely a disappointment with Quique Sanchez Flores4 men being early casualties in both cup competitions and struggling in La Liga as well.

Heading into this weekend4s clash, Atletico are seventh in the standings on 39 points, three behind sixth-placed Athletic Bilbao and a massive 12 adrift of Villarreal and the final Champions League berth.

Striker Aguero, whose side are unbeaten in their last five matches, admitted: "We know we're having an inconsistent season. We started off well, but there have been some ups and downs. I think the important thing in this league is to not lose points and now we have strung together a streak in which we're not losing.

"We have to be realistic and we know that the Champions League will be very difficult to reach, but we're not going to throw in the towel, we have to believe and have confidence.

"The Champions League has always been our first goal, but we can't leave the Europa League on the side. Our immediate goal is to grab a European spot. Playing well or poorly, the squad has to win."

Looking ahead to the game, the Argentina international said: "It doesn't matter what kind of form you are in when you go into a game like that; they're always special matches for both teams. It's going to be a tough match in which we'll have to give our all on the pitch.

"You never know what might happen, but we're going to fight till the end to earn the three points, which would allow us to keep battling with those above us."



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